CYCAN
I. Brief introduction
1. Founding History
Four years have passed from the establishment of a student forum under the International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE) NGO Forum to today"s China College Environmental Organization Cooperation Forum (CEF). With the help of IFCE, CEF have so far held 4 forums. While the ones in 2003 and 2005 played an important role in boosting communication and cooperation among university student environmental groups, the 2006 Forum focusing on the building of conservation-oriented campus became a platform for implementation of specific projects by targeting a specific issue. The independent operation of the 2006 Forum was also an important transition in CEF’s development. In 2007, youth responsibility on climate change was chosen as the theme of the forum, on which initiating climate change projects in universities around China became one of our primary goals. After evaluating and analyzing the current situation, we decided to accelerate CEF’s development by carrying out projects related to climate change.

During the summer from July to September of 2007, leaders of several major youth environmental organizations in Beijing came together to discuss how to carry out climate change projects, as well as how to promote CEF’s development. On one meeting in August, we shared our views on the current obstacles for promoting environmental activities in Chinese universities, new technologies related to climate change, relevant governmental policies, outstanding cases in universities home and abroad, as well as existing climate change activities in these organizations. We found that every organization had its own advantages and resources that could contribute to a common goal. Therefore, establishing a network can integrate our respective strengths to stimulate youth initiatives on climate change. After four meetings and some individual follow-ups, we came out with a youth declaration and the founding of China Youth Climate Action Network (CYCAN, the Chinese name of which is “Zhongguo Qingnian Yingdui Qihou Bianhua Xingdong Wangluo”).
2. Members and Responsibilities

3. Long-Term Goal
CYCAN addresses global climate change and the important role of Chinese youths regarding this issue. It aims at leading Chinese youth environmental organizations to implement global warming and energy projects, discovering a new model for the development of Chinese youth organizations by taking advantage of the network, and promoting climate change projects on a scientific basis, in order to build resource-saving campuses and meet the national energy-saving & emission reduction targets.
II. Plans for CYCAN
1. Short-term
Collecting data and conducting research in pilot universities in China on climate change and Clean Development Mechanisms;
Organizing training programs on research and project implementation;
Launching small grants to promote advocacy projects on climate change in universities;
Establishing climate change action networks around China and holding exchange activities among them;
Publishing the Youth Action Manual and monthly or bimonthly newsletters;
Constructing the official website for CYCAN;
Holding promotional fairs for the fifth CEF conference and climate change projects.
Schedule:
1) Selection of pilot universities (completed)
From September to Mid-October 2007, CEF sent thousands of emails to college environmental groups in China to invite them to join CYCAN’s pilot projects, thanks to the massive amount of contacts it gathered throughout the four national forums. Based on the geographic location of each university and the quality of the feedback to the survey, we selected 23 universities from 21 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, including Macao University. The pilot projects will facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the national situation and promotion of future projects.
2) Training (completed)
On October 28th - 29th, 2007, we invited the pilot universities to Beijing to attend a training program. We hoped to enhance the attendees’ knowledge about climate change so that they could master the scientific methods of data collection and research, in addition to activity organizing and capability building.
3) Establishing an official website (completed)
From September to November 2007, we constructed the official website for CYCAN (www.cycan.org), which serves as a database for future youth actions to climate change.
4) Issuing newsletters
From December 8th, newsletters will be issued at least once every two months.
5) Pilot projects
From November 2007 to June 2008, climate change projects will be implemented in the pilot universities. Specific activities include CDM green campus data collection, climate change awareness advocacy in respective regions, and so on. These universities can carry out relevant activities according to their own circumstances, and CYCAN is in charge of overall coordination, technological support, and other assistances.
6) Nationwide advocacy projects
From November to December 2007, we will launch a series of advocacy projects around China, combining the universities’ geographic and other advantages through CYCAN’s network, to enhance public awareness of climate change and emission reduction, as well as CYCAN’s publicity. The national project will be held on December 8th.
7) Publishing China’s Youth Action Manual on Climate Change
In February 2008, through collecting cases home and abroad, we will publish China’s first Youth Action Manual on Climate Change to provide guiding information, in line with state policies and China"s current conditions.
8) Initial data research report and recommendation to the administration
From April to July 2008, each pilot school will present a research report and a proposal for changes, which are based on the data collected earlier and estimated results of the measures to be taken, to the facilities department of the university. CYCAN will connect sponsors that are willing to provide energy-saving products with schools to improve their facilities, thereby to reach the emission reduction target in practice.
9) Project summary
In June 2008, the pilot universities will submit their project summaries and green campus data to CYCAN. CDM Club will conduct a statistical analysis to obtain a base data on Chinese colleges’ total carbon emission. This will prepare CYCAN well for future plans and refinement of long-term goals.
In July 2008, we will hold the Fifth CEF Forum, along with CYCAN’s Review and Promotion Conference. Outstanding representatives from the participating university environmental groups will give presentations about their projects. Members of the government, the media, funds, etc. will also be invited to offer guidance and support to the development of CYCAN and youth climate change projects. The follow-up programs will be promoting pilot projects in all other colleges and universities in China and setting specific college emission reduction targets.

2. Long-term
1) August-November 2008: pilot schools sharing experiences with other universities within the province;
After November of 2008: implementing projects in other universities.
According to the progress of pilot projects, pilot schools will conduct research training for other colleges within its province based on CDM Club’s model and thus promote climate change projects locally.
2) Starting from August 2008 (ideally after April 2008, when the first set of data is released):
Establishing a database for Chinese college students’ action against climate change. The database incorporates the form of an electronic map, where you will be able to get the data of energy consumption (electricity, water, solid waste, and heat energy) of any building on any participating campus in its province from the map. The database will also include monthly data, proposals to the administration, photos, and so on. Any improvements will be compared with previous data. This information will be used to construct research reports and proposals that will be submitted to the relevant government agencies and sponsors.
3) 2009: considering implementing CDM projects based on the research results
With the help of IFCE, Green Peace, and Global Greengrants Fund, we plan to implement CDM-related projects in Chinese universities, considering the price advantage granted to developing countries in the international carbon market, state policies, and earlier data research. Thus we will help universities allocate funds to improve energy consumption on campus, in order to reach CEF’s target of 20% emission reduction in Chinese universities.